Photographic timing apparatus



Feb. 12,1935. I I w. A. RIDDELL 1,991,119

7 PHOTOGRAPHIC TIMI N6 APPARATUS I Filed April 5, 1952 Patented Feb. 12, 1935 UNITED :sT'ATEs corporation of York 1 "Application April 5,1922; s me ncsospm okclaims'. (cnis ezei The present invention relates to a photographic timing apparatus and more particularly to a pneumatic-type of self-timer for actuating the cable release of a. photographic shutter. I Many types of timing devices forfactuating the cablereleaseof a photographic shutter are already known. The outstanding advantage of these timing devices is that the shutter of'the camera is operated only after a predetermined interval and the operator has an opportunity to enterthe photographic fieldoi the camera before the shutter isoperated. It has also been proposed to construct timing devices 'so' that the predetermined time interval may be varied, thus giving the operator more or less timaas desired, to enter the "photographicfield or to perform any other acts before the shutte .v is operated; 'I'hetiming apparatus of the present invention'is quite similar in appearance and-junction to the shutter actuating device discfosed in the patent to ram J; MarksfiNo. 1,25,901;"issued 1 February'lz, 1918. However, the timingappara tus of the present invention presents manyimmovements and refinements "in the mannr'fof constructing and-assembling'such a -shutter actuating device; L

The primary object' of the; present invention is the provision of 'an adjustable timing' 'appa ratus having a cylinder provided with a port in the bottom thereof for the admissionof-a fluid, and having a control means Ionregulating'the admission of fluidinto thecylinder which includes a washer located within the cylinder and adapted to assume a predetermined. position with respect to the bottom of the cylinder. p Another object of the present invention is the provision of a timingapparatus which hasan adjustable cap threaded onto a pneumatic cylina derfor varying or controlling the admission of air into the cylinder, said cap cooperating" with a pointer to indicate the-setting of; the timing apparatus. *A still further object oithpresentinventioh is-the provision Oi ajtiming" apparatus which comprises apneumatic cylinder, fa cap adjustably mountedjthereonand a yoke adapted to supports. cable release and including-a pair of pointers, one of which cooperates with the cap to indicate the setting'of the timing device and the other of which acts as a irictiondrag on the exterior of the cap.

Still another object of the presentinventionis the provision of a timing-device comprising a, pneumatic cylinder, 9. cap adjustably mounted thereon and a yokeladjustably mountd 12 in cylinder the pneumatic cylinderso that the position a pointeron the yoke may varied to alter the absolute value of the tinzxesettings, 1

1 The photographic timing apparatus 01 th invention comprises a'pneumatic cylinder pro- 5 vided with a port inthe bottom thereof, a cap threaded onto saidcylinder and a controlmeans for varying the admission of fluidintothe cylinder, control meansincluding'a washerflo cated withirfithe.cylinder and adaptedfto be l0- variably spaced with respect-- to the cylinderbot! tom by adjustment of the' cap. A yoke ad justably mounted upon the cylinder, isadapted to support a cableireleaseior actuation by a plunger operated bythepiston of thepylinder 15 and includes a pair" of pointers one of which cooperates with the cap to' indicatcythe setting of timing apparatus and theother of which .Reterence -i's. hereby made to the accompany- 211 i113 drawing iniwhich similar elements "aredesigw noted. by similar'reference numerals and in Fig.1 'is ail-out elevation of the timing appaa ratus according to the invention. I r V 25 2 is a semi-elevation oftheside and a semi-cross section of the photographic timing' apparatus according to the invention, the crosssectional portion of Fig. 2 being taken on the IineMOfFiQI." 3II= Fig. 3 'i'sv a horizontal cross-section of the timing apparatus taken on the Iine'{3-'-3 oi Fig.1.

- In theillustrated embodiment of the' invenson; the cylinder 10 has a 'dishedQbot'toni 11 a5 provided. with an axially located port 12. A

1 piston 13" of any well-known construction is adapted to slide withincylinder 10 and is attached to a hollow plunger 1d which; extends through the cover 1'5 of the-cylinder'lo. A rod 40:

16 1s axially located-within cylinder '10 and has a; restricted portion 1'1 which extends through port 12 in spaced relation to thesidesthereo f.

. A disk I8 is mounted on the restricted portion 17 of rod 16. A coilspring 19 encircles rod 16"within cylinder 10' and extends into the hollow plunger 14'. Coil spring 19 ismaintained within the cylinder between the top I 20 ot plunger 1* and'the' disk 18 on the restricted portion 1102' rod 16. Top 20 is "provided with a concavedepression 21. r A washer 22, preferably circular andc'omposed of l'eather, is mounted uponv restricted: portion 17 of rod 16 and is adapted to coverthcport 10. A cap zahas'a knurledl rim I j V 24, and is threaded onto cylinder as best 7 in the bottom of cap 23 for the admission of 'air which 7 is in turn admitted into cylinder 10.

through port 12. r V

The coil spring-'192normallymoves or; tends tomove the piston 13 to the position of maximum displacement, in other words, piston 13 is normally moved by coil spring 19 to draw fluid into cylinder 10. Coil spring 19 also urges the restricted portion 17 of rod 16into abutment with the bottom of cap 23. '--'I 'he axial location of cap 23 upon cylinder 10 determines the axial I position of rod 16 and its restricted portion 17. p v The axiallocation of cap 23 also determines the position of washer 22 with respect to bottom.

11 of cylinder l0. If the time interval for max imum displacement oflpiston 13 :is to be; rela'-' 'tive'ly long-the cap 23., should be axially located so that .0011 spring 19.. 'presses "washer 18-:int'o position very close to' cylinder bottom 11 and so that "the passage for the admission offluid into the cylinder is considerably,restricted. On

the other hand, if the.- time interval for maximum; displacement of. the piston 13 is to. be

relatively short,;-then cap 23,. shouldbe screwed farther onto. .cylinderrulo sojchat,lithere 'is a greater space between washer 22. and. cylinder bottom 11 and so thatdluid ismorereadily admitted into cylinder 10. a .1 31:

One of the outstanding-features of the present invention is the location'oif Washer :22 within cylinder 10. Suchxljocation'iof the -washer obviously. protects it from contamination-by grease or dirt and also, assures more uniform icontrol of therate at whichfluid entersthe cylinder:

It will be noted that the fiuid rjushing into the cylinder-10.willpexert a forceon washer22 which moves it away from cylinder bottom 11, thus there is no possibilityof washer 22.becoming stuck to the bottom 11 of. cylinder 10 or becoming jammed to restrict .the spacing between washer 22 and bottom=11 more than isdesired or 'more than thejsetting of the cap-'23'would normally permit-This interior location "of washer 22 isquite distinctfrom the fluid admission controls exhibited by the prior artwhich uniformly locatethe washer or other restricting means so that it, is drawn against the cylinder wall by the inrushing fluid.

A yoke 28 is of .inverted U -shaped 'formation and includes: agpointer 29. integral. with one extremity thereof and a pointer 30 integral with the. other extremity thereof. The'yoke 28 has ahook 2 8 for attachment to the camera bed and is provided in eachlegwith a horizontal slot 31. Diametrically opposite bolts 32 pass through the. slots 31gin each-leg of yoke 28', through the edges of cap l5 and are threaded into the 1 cylinder 10. .--Th e pointer 29 extends downwardly along the side of cylinder 10 into the recessed portion 25 of cap 23; Pointer 29 V is provided'with an index mark 33 forregister- 1 ing with the graduations26 0n cap 23 and for indicating the settingof cap 23; z

The pointer 29 .also'acts, as a stop for cap 23 so that it cannot be accidentally or casually unscrewed from cylinder :10. This last mentionedv feature is of importance inasmuch as whenthe yoke 28 has been attached in'position on "cylinder 10 with cap 23. threaded into the desired position, the cap v23 cannot be easily removed from cylinder 10 nor can the absolute range of time intervalsof the apparatus be easily varied. However, if the 7 maximum' or minimum setting of the timing apparatus is not suitable to existing conditions, the range of timing settings may be varied as a whole by springing out pointer 29 and turning cap 23 in the desired direction until pointer .30 springs into'recessed position 25, whereuponfpointer 30 will now function in the same manner as previously described with respect to pointer 29. p

' The yoke 28 has an integral spring clip 34 and is provided with anotch 35. Clip 34 and notch 35 form a mountingfor one end of a cable release as indicated by dotted lines inFig. 2. The E plunger'of the cable release extends downwardly portion 39 adapted to engage the groove 36 in r plunger 14. Plate 3'7 is mounted .upon cylinder cover; 15 by a pin 40 which slides in aslot 41 provided in plate 37.. Aspringarm 42 on plate 37 normally presses. the flat portion 39 against plunger 14- and into groove36 when the plunger 14 is moved downwardly to. bring; the groove '36 below cover 15. Asa result plunger 14' will be held in the position of minimum dis-.,

placement by plate 37 in spite of the tendency, of coil springlQ to raise said plunger 14.. The fiat portion 39-of plate 37 is disengaged from groove 36; by a release 43 integral with plate '37Jand extending to the exterior of the appa ratus through the cylinderlO and the edge of" cover 15. V

Theside wall of cylinder 10 is provided with a, hole 44 so, that the last part of the upward] stroke of piston 13,. plunger 14, and top 20 will take, place rapidly and so that the plunger of the cable release will be moved rapidly through itscritical positionQ The initial upward movement of piston '13 and jplunger14 under :the action of coil spring 19 will be retard ed corresponding to the spacing between washer 22'and the bottom 11 of cylinder .10. 7 After the piston has moved abovehole 44 the restraint on coil spring 19 is substantially all removed and plunger'14 willbe moved rapidlyupward; l

The operation of thephotographic timing vice will: now be described: 1

The plunger 14 and top 20'are manually depressed so that plate 37 engages groove '36 and plunger14 isheld in its lowermost position. The cable release. may be positioned between clip 34 and notch 35 and the various adjustments on the shutter can be made.

restriction on fiuid admission, that is, bygthe spacing between washer 22and the bottom 11 of cylinder 10. During this interval the operator has an opportunity to. enter the photographig or cameralfield.

The cap 23 is-advf justed to F, M orS position depending ,upon

"but this :upward movementis retarded. by the After piston 13 has passed hole .44 the move ment of plunger 14 is more rapid and. the plunger of the cable release is quickly moved through its trip position. a

, lithe setting S of cap 23 'does not give a sufficient time interval, pointer 29 is sprung outwardly and cap 23; is backed olf of cylinder 10 a half turn until pointer =30 entersr recess and the time settings l are an increased. Whereas ifthe setting-F is too 's1ow;:cap 23-is screwed onto cylinder re until pointer "enters recess 25 but. now the time intervals :corre+ spending tothe settings have been decreased;

Furthermore, the cap 23 may' be given one-1 or more complete turns in either direction until Having now particularly described my inven-,

, tion what I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States and what I claim is:

1. In a photographic timing apparatus, the

combination with acylinder provided with a port in the bottom thereof and adapted to retion of maximum displacement, of a control means for regulating the'admission of fluid into said cylinder including a washer 'within' said cylinder, a stop means withinsaid-cylinder for predetermining the position of said washer, and an adjustable cap for varying the position of the stop means within said cylinder with respect to the bottom thereof, saidwasher being movable into the predetermined position by the admission of fluid through; said port into said cylinder.

2. In a photographic timing apparatus, the

combination with a cylinder provided with a port in the bottom thereof and adapted to receive a fluid, acap provided witha hole, threaded onto said cylinder and having a recessed portion and a'plurality of graduations,

a piston within said cylinder, a plunger attached to said piston andja spring tending to move said piston to the position of maximum displacement,

of a washer within said cylinder and adjusted by rotation of said cap to assume a predetermined position within said cylinder with respect to the bottom thereof, said washer'being .movable into said'predetermined position by the admission of fluid: through said hole and said port into said cylinder, and a yoke detachably connected to 'said cylinder and having a pointer extending into the recessed portion of said cap in registration with a graduationthere- 3. In a photographic timing apparatus, the combination with a cylinder provided with a port, a piston within said cylinder, a spring tending to move said piston to a position of maximum displacement, and a rod extending tom thereof and adapted to receive a fluid, a

cap adjustably attached to said cylinder and provided with a holeya piston within said cylinder, a rod within said cylinder having a restricted portion extending through the port of said cylinder-' and abutting said cap, 'a spring normally moving saidpiston to a position. "of

maximumidisplacernentand resiliently maintaining the restricted portion of said rodagainst said cap, and a -washer within said cylinder, adaptedto belocated by said rod in a predetermined position within said cylinderand adapted 'to be 'moved' into said predetermined position by: the admission offluidthrough said hole and saidport into said cylinder.

r I 5; A pneumatic self-timer comprising'a cylinder provided with a port in the bottom thereof and adapted to receive air, a cap provided witha hole and adjustably attached to said'cylinder,

a piston within said cylinder, a hollow plunger attached to said piston, a rod within said cylinder adapted to extend into said plunger and have ing a restricted portion extending through the I I port of saidcylinder and abutting said cap, a spring encircling said rod, partly within said plunger, normally moving said piston to the posiceive a fluid, a piston within saidcylinder and a spring tending to move said piston to the position of maximum displacement and resiliently and a washer within said cylinder, encircling the restricted portion of said rod, adapted to be,

located by said rod in a predetermined position within said cylinder with respect to the bottom thereof and adapted to be moved into said predetermined position by the admission of air through said hole and said port into said cylinder. x i a '6. In a photographic timing, apparatus, the combination with a cylinder provided with a port and adapted to receive a fluid, and a cap threaded onto said cylinder, provided with a recessed portion and having a plurality of graduations, and a washer adjusted, by rotation of said cap, with respect to said port for regulating the rate of admission of fluid into said cylinder through said port, of a pointer mounted on said cylinder, extending into the recessed portion of said cap to register with the graduations thereon and forming a stop to permit rotation butg prevent unthreading of said cap'from the cylin der.

7. In a photographic timing apparatus, the

- combination with a cylinder provided with a port respect to said port and for blocking said washer ina predetermined position with respect to said port, of a pair of pointers mounted on said cylin-o der, one of which extends into the recessed portion of said capand the other of which makes frictional engagement with the outer surface of said cap. I

8. In a photographic timing apparatus, the

combination with a cylinder provided with a I port and adapted to receive a fluid, a cap threaded onto said cylinder and provided with o a recessed portion, a washer mounted for move- ,ment with respect to said port for regulating the rate of admission of fluid into said cylinder through said port, and a stop means movable by said cap with respect to said port and for blocking said washer in a predetermined position with respect to said port, of a yoke mounted on said cylindereand having a pointer extending into 1 the recessed portion of said cap, and adjustable connections between-said yoke and said cylinder 10 said cap with respect to said port and for blockfor circumferential adjustment of said yoke with respect to said cylinder.

9.'In a photographic timing apparatus, the combination with a cylinder provided with a port and adapted to receive a'fiuid, a cap threaded onto said cylinder andprovidedwith a recessed portion a washer mounted for movement with respect to said port for regulating the rate of admission of fluid into said cylinder through said port, and a stop means movable by ing said washer in a predetermined position with respect to said port, of ayoke mounted on said cylinder and having a pointer oneach extremity of said :yoke, one pointer extending into the recessedportion of I said cap and the other pointer making frictional engagement with said capfandt-adjus table connections between said yoke and said cylinder for circumferential ad-1 justment of said yoke with respect to said cylinder. j j

7 WILLIAM A. RIDDELL. 

